Fáilte chuig láithreán Gréasáin an Seirbhís Tacaíochta d'Eolaíochta an Teastais Shóisearaigh

Junior Science New Service Provision for Teachers

The Second Level Support Service (SLSS) extend its gratitude to all of you that supported the work of the service throughout the years since its establishment in 2001. A new cross - sectoral service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers  (PDST) was established in September 2010. The PDST will subsume much of the work of the SLSS.

The PDST is happy to inform you that the resources, materials and functionalities of this website will continue to be available to you in the future. 

Contacts;  science@pdst.ie    061 585064
Some aims of the service are:

• to promote student centred learning and investigation
• to assist teachers to work together effectively in school
• to assist non subject specialists
• to help teachers to integrate ICT in science teaching and learning

  Junior Science Support Service website resources are available by clicking here

Thank you for completing the PDST Junior Science Support Teacher Feedback Survey in April 2011. To access a summary report click here

 Spring 2012 Course participants are invited to complete our PDST Junior Science Workshop Evaluation Form

Summary Report of Evaluations

Support Courses Spring 2012

Induction Course for Junior Science Teachers

To apply for a place on any course email your name, number and school details to Bríd Finn at sciences@pdst.ie  or fax completed application form to 061 585065. 

For enquiries tel. 061 585064.  Click here to download the application form

More course details and further workshops –as needs emerge will be available on this website.

PDST Junior Science Spring Workshops 2012

 
Vernier Datalogging click here for flyer

These workshops are follow-up sessions for those who attended the Autumn 2011 course as well as other interested teachers who wish to participate.

Participants will be guided through the Logger Pro software and how it can be used to enhance investigative science at JC level.

Any issues involving the use of LabQuests or TI Calculators will be addressed.

The main feature of the night will be examining the uses of LoggerPro, the Vernier software program.  See   http://www.vernier.com/products/software/lp/ 

·         Creating graphs and charts in LoggerPro

·         Transferring data from loggers to LoggerPro

·         Analysis of  graphs

·         Inserting text, photos, etc. into LoggerPro

·         Adding pages to a LoggerPro report

We invite all participants to bring along their laptop for installation of the most up to date version of the software for use on the night.

Time of all workshops 7.00 – 9.00 pm.

To Register email your name, mobile number and school details to Brid Finn at sciences@pdst.ie  or fax a completed application form to 061 585065

PDST Junior Cycle Science Collaboration Courses with NCE MSTL UL

Assessment Questions

  This workshop involves the implementation of the Inquiry Based Science Teaching and Learning with the aim of improving the participants’ skills in developing Junior Cycle Science Assessment Questions.

Facilitator: Dr. Jennifer Johnston, NCE-MSTL. (Jennifer.Johnston@ul.ie)

Science Topic: Junior Certificate Science

To apply for a place email your name, number and school details to Bríd Finn at sciences@pdst.ie  or fax completed application form to 061 585065. 

For enquiries tel. 061 585064

Local Facilitators

Do your educational goals match those set out above? Are you passionate about Science and willing to share your experience with colleagues? Do you have a special interest in an area of teaching science? Have you experience in helping students use modern ICT effectively?
Would you be interested in receiving training and assistance to develop and operate local courses in your area? If so then contact Tim Regan 087 2314090 or email timregan@pdst.ie 

Note: The first meeting of PDST Junior Science local facilitators took place in the Athlone Education on Thursday November 18, 2010. A second meeting is planned for the Athlone Education Centre on Tuesday February 1,  2011.

 PDST Local Facilitators Evaluation form 

SEC

The examination papers and marking schemes are all available on the SEC website www.examinations.ie

Revised Syllabus and Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is not permitted in schools. In the past, some experiments related to respiration may have been performed using cigarettes. It should be noted that no activity involving the use of cigarettes should be undertaken in school.
See Circular 0130/2006.

NCCA

Draft Teacher guidelines for Junior Science have been sent to all schools. Electronic copy is available on the NCCA website.
March '06 Guidelines

ONLINE SAFETY COURSES
Safety and Health in the Science Laboratory for Teachers  
This free course will help teachers of the Science subjects improve their knowledge and understanding of safety, health and welfare, particularly within the science laboratory.

Get Safe - Work Safe: Workplace Safety and Health for Senior Cycle Students
This short free course will develop your knowledge of workplace safety, health and welfare. We are all responsible for safety and health at some level and the more we understand it the better prepared we are to prevent accidents and ill-health at work.
It is aimed at senior cycle secondary school students who are engaged in work experience or holiday work, and as future members of the workforce. It is provided by the Health and Safety Authority in Ireland.

Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) of Substances and Mixtures
under EU CLP Regulation. For further information, visit The Health and Safety Authority’s website www.hsa.ie or contact the CLP Helpdesk at e-mail clp@hsa.ie or telephone 1890 289 389

Laboratory Health and Safety 
Safety in the school laboratory is everyone’s concern and the aim is to ensure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill. The Health and Safety Authority control measures outline ways of preventing accidents. Download HSA file here

Discover Sensors Project

See the Discover Sensors website 

   PDST Local Facilitator Planning Day Evaluation Form March 5, 2012